We Just Want to TEACH

How can we help students reduce test anxiety and improve how they perform on tests? We searched for strategies and discoverd some effective approaches. We reviewed 12 strategies and discussed why they work. Follow on Twitter: @juliacookonline @AggieAshley @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Julia Cook, a former teacher and school counselor, has presented in over 3,000 schools worldwide. She regularly delivers keynote addresses at national and international education and counseling conferences, speaks to corporate audiences, and has 139 published children's books. The goal behind all of Julia's books and efforts is to actively involve young people in her fun and creative stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspirations for her books come from working with children and carefully listening to parents and teachers. Ashley Eberhart is in her 11th year of teaching as a Spanish Teacher at Round Rock High School in Round Rock, Texas. She serves as the Vice President for the Texas Foreign Language Association and the Austin Area Chairperson for the Texas A&M Hispanic Network. Ashley has presented from the campus level all the way to the national level on various topics such as SEL classroom strategies, building relationships in the virtual space, and implementing authentic resources for World Languages to advance interpretive proficiency. When she's not in teacher mode, she spends time with her husband and teenage son and enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, blogging, and helping in the Texas BBQ Community.

In this episode, we return to the topic of what new teachers wished they knew when they first had a mentor and became one later on. We discuss the challenges and experiences of new teachers highlighting the unexpected responsibilities such as curriculum planning, parent communication, and professional development. The discussion provides practical advice for new teachers and those who mentor and are being mentored. Follow on Twitter: @MentorinAction @sgthomas1973@bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Carol Pelletier Radford is the founder of Mentoring in Action, an organization dedicated to supporting beginning teachers and their mentors. She is an experienced teacher, university administrator, and certified yoga instructor. She believes the best form of professional learning is when teachers share their craft knowledge and wisdom with each other. She is the author of When I Started Teaching, I Wish I Had Known, Rachel Palumbo is a 24-year-old passionate educator in her second year of teaching, dedicated to nurturing young minds as a 4th-grade teacher. Her approach revolves around child-centered teaching and a strong emphasis on childhood literacy, aiming to empower all students to reach their fullest potential. She firmly believes in the power of inclusion, diversity, and unlocking each student's creative potential to create a supportive and thriving learning environment.

We invited two second-year teachers to talk about what they learned during year one and what they wished they had known to prepare them for year two. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973@bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is in her second year as a third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent at school this year. She lives for those lightbulb moments students have when they figure out something they have been struggling with. Ashley Wix is a second-year 3rd grade teacher in Gwinnett County! She attended the University of Georgia where she received her Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education. When she's not teaching, she loves to read, go to concerts, spend time with her dog, Milo, and be with family!

As we head back to school, we pause for a quick mindset audit to identify the attitudes we want to build on and those we want to tweak for the new school year. Follow on Twitter: @Angela Watson @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork. Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience and over a decade of experience as an instructional coach. Angela created a website in 2003 to share practical classroom ideas and help other educators build a positive mindset to truly enjoy their work. Angela has written five books and her site now impacts over 8 million educators annually and rereleased book AWAKENED CHANGE YOUR MINDSET TO TRANSFORM YOUR TEACHING (Second Edition).

Many of us were consumed with teaching when ChatGPT entered the scene last year, so we had little available attention to give it.  The impact of this tool and other forms of generative AI has grown since then, and now it's essential to know the basics before we head back to school this term. Follow on Twitter: @Angela_Watson  @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience and over a decade of experience as an instructional coach. Angela created a website in 2003 to share practical classroom ideas and help other educators build a positive mindset to truly enjoy their work.  Angela has written five books and her site now impacts over 8 million educators annually.

Many students see math as confusing, frustrating, or irrelevant, making the subject difficult to learn and teach. This problem is even more challenging in early grades. Our guests share how they are using ChatGPT to create more relatable math stories that engage students, help them learn the language of math, and provide personalized support for struggling students. Follow on Twitter: @bobsonwong @leveragingAIedu @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Deborah Cleveland is an instructional designer from Des Moines, Iowa. As a middle school teacher, she loved leveraging innovative ideas into her classroom to enhance student experiences. She has taken that passion and is now working to design timely and relevant learning opportunities for educators that are focused on leveling up classroom experiences. Recently, she has been been working scaling the Agile mindset and the scrum framework across educational systems, learning about AI, and studying the role that neuroplasticity can have in the classroom. Bobson Wong has taught high school math in New York City public schools since 2005. He is the co-author of The Math Teacher's Toolbox and Practical Algebra: A Self-Teaching Guide and was the 2022 winner of the Math for America Muller Award for Professional Influence in Education.

There are two times during the school year when managing student behavior is more challenging; the last month is one of them.  What have we learned about helping and guiding students through the last month of school that we can carry forward to next term? Follow on Twitter: @copingkids @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has been working with children, teens, and their families for 20 years. She has been helping children and teens build their coping skills throughout her career in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics, and in her private practice. She founded Coping Skills for Kids to help children and teens learn healthy and safe ways to manage big feelings. She has written several books, including the bestselling Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, and the Social Skills for Kids Workbook. She is also the host of the Calm & Connected Podcast. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, CNN, Huffington Post, and The Skimm® Newsletter. Janine lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children. Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is a brand new third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent at school this year. She lives for those lightbulb moments students have when they figure out something they have been struggling with.

The full potential of ChatGPT and generative AI is available to those who know how to communicate with these tools effectively. What must we understand to teach these new skills to students with learning disabilities? Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @fromrooma212 @profsjohnson@attipscast @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Special Education at Mercyhurst University and Director of Undergraduate Education. Dr. Johnson specializes in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders of children, and function-based interventions in natural environments. Her scholarly interests coalesce around instructional design and development of pedagogical best practices for students with severe disabilities, in addition to analyzing the link between delinquency and disability in the juvenile justice system. Her national and international level presentations have addressed using diverse clinical experiences to transform teacher education and literacy instruction for students with severe disabilities. Christopher Bugaj is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. He hosts “The A.T.TIPSCAST,” a multiple award-winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. He also co-hosts the “Talking With Tech” podcast that features conversations about augmentative and alternative communication. Bugaj is the creator of ATEval2Go, an iPad app that helps education professionals perform technology assessments for students. He co-produces and co-authors the “Night Light Stories” podcast that features original stories for children. A frequent presenter, he has delivered over 300 live or digital sessions at local, regional national and international events. He has designed and taught online ISTE courses on assistive technology and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). He has also co-written or written multiple ISTE books, including The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools and The New Assistive Tech. Ann Stiltner is a high school special education teacher. She received a master's degree in special education from the University of Hartford and a certificate of advanced studies in literacy from Sacred Heart University. She writes the blog from Room A212 (annstiltner.com/blog).

Special education teachers have used AI to instruct students with disabilities for many years. However, generative AI adds new possibilities and new challenges. This discussion explores what we're learning about using ChatGPT with students who learn differently. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @fromrooma212 @profsjohnson@attipscast @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Special Education at Mercyhurst University and Director of Undergraduate Education. Dr. Johnson specializes in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders of children, and function-based interventions in natural environments. Her scholarly interests coalesce around instructional design and development of pedagogical best practices for students with severe disabilities, in addition to analyzing the link between delinquency and disability in the juvenile justice system. Her national and international level presentations have addressed using diverse clinical experiences to transform teacher education and literacy instruction for students with severe disabilities. Christopher Bugaj is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. He hosts “The A.T.TIPSCAST,” a multiple award-winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. He also co-hosts the “Talking With Tech” podcast that features conversations about augmentative and alternative communication. Bugaj is the creator of ATEval2Go, an iPad app that helps education professionals perform technology assessments for students. He co-produces and co-authors the “Night Light Stories” podcast that features original stories for children. A frequent presenter, he has delivered over 300 live or digital sessions at local, regional national and international events. He has designed and taught online ISTE courses on assistive technology and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). He has also co-written or written multiple ISTE books, including The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools and The New Assistive Tech. Ann Stiltner is a high school special education teacher. She received a master's degree in special education from the University of Hartford and a certificate of advanced studies in literacy from Sacred Heart University. She writes the blog from Room A212 (annstiltner.com/blog).

Teaching English as a second language has its unique joys and challenges. But when a teacher has to teach ESL students English and other subjects, their job requires more. We've asked two educators who have spent a lot of time figuring out the best ways to teach English and other subjects who are learning English to share what they've learned — the most significant difficulties and the most successful methods. Follow on Twitter: @DebbieZacarian @VMSimmons10 @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Debbie Zacarian provides professional development and policy analyses for educators of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. An expert consultant for school districts, universities, and organizations, she served the Massachusetts Parent Information Resource Center and Federation for Children with Special Needs. With advanced degrees in clinical psychology and educational policy and research, she's written over 100 publications including Transforming Schools for Multilingual Learners: A comprehensive Guide for Educators. Vivian Micolta Simmons was born in Cali, Colombia, but relocated to the United States in 2013. Vivian is an English as a Second Language and Dual Immersion Lead Teacher for Iredell-Statesville Schools in NC. She holds a Master's degree in TESOL from Greensboro College and currently finishing her Masters in School Administration with UNC Charlotte.

Every break in the school year requires us to wind our students back up and re-engage them in the learning routines. In this discussion, we exchange practical and proven ways to help students get back into the swing of learning — including real-life examples of what works. It's all about moving students from chill mode to school mode so they can finish the year well. Follow on Twitter: @bluestein_dr @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is a brand new third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent at school this year. She lives for those lightbulb moments students have when they figure out something they have been struggling with. Dr. Jane Bluestein is an award-winning author whose books include The Win-Win Classroom; The Beginning Teacher's Survival Guide (formerly Becoming a Win-Win Teacher); Managing 21st Century Classrooms; Creating Emotionally Safe Schools; High School's Not Forever; Parents, Teens, & Boundaries; The Parent's Little Book of Lists: Do's and Don'ts of Effective Parenting; Mentors, Masters, and Mrs. McGregor: Stories of Teachers Making a Difference; and Magic, Miracles & Synchronicity : A Journal of Gratitude and Awareness. Dr. Bluestein's latest book is The Perfection Deception: Why Trying to Be Perfect is Sabotaging Your Relationships, Making You Sick, and Holding Your Happiness Hostage. Formerly a classroom teacher (in inner-city Pittsburgh, PA), crisis-intervention counselor, teacher training program coordinator, and volunteer with high-risk teens at a local Day Treatment Program.

Many school librarians are exploring how they can use ChatGPT and generative AI to support teaching, learning, research, and creativity.  We invited three librarians to share their early discoveries and some innovative ways they are using this rapidly expanding technology. Follow on Twitter: @joycevalenza @aelissmalespina@lucasjmaxwell @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Joyce Valenza is Associate Professor, at Rutgers University, SC&I and wrote the NeverendingSearch Blog for School Library Journal (now on hiatus), and contributes to several other library and tech publications. She speaks globally about the thoughtful use of technology in learning and the power of librarians to lead. Joyce was honored with the American Association of School Librarians' Distinguished Service Award and named an AASL Social Media Leadership Luminary. She is a Milken Educator and an American Memory Fellow. Joyce earned her doctorate in information science from the University of North Texas. Lucas Maxwell has been working with youth in libraries for fifteen years. He currently works as a school librarian in South London, UK. In 2017 he was named the UK's School Librarian of the Year, and in 2022, he was called the UK's Reading for Pleasure Champion by the UK's Literacy Association. Elissa Malespina is the librarian at Union High School in Union, NJ, and serves as a Board of Education Member for the South Orange - Maplewood School District, where she has been instrumental in helping to pass policies that strengthen the district's commitment to have diverse resources and materials available to all students. Elissa is at the forefront of using Web 2.0 resources and tools like Augmented Reality to make the experience in my library more interactive. Her work has been featured in NPR, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and the PBS Documentary Film School Sleuth: The Case of The Wired Classroom. *The views expressed by Malespina do not represent her employer.

Teaching multilingual students is full of joy and challenges. We invited three educators to explore how teachers can use ChatGPT to support students who speak English as a second or third language. Follow on Twitter: @cahnmann @michelleshory @irina_mcgrath @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd Irina McGrath is an ESL expert and English Language Learner herself. She serves Jefferson County Public Schools as an Education Recovery Specialist. She is a co-director of the Louisville Writing Project (LWP) and a University of Louisville & Indiana University Southeast adjunct who teaches ESL/ENL Instruction as well as Assessment, Literature, and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity courses. Irina was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. Michelle Shory is a veteran language educator with 24 years of experience in five states. She is currently a district ESL instructional coach in Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville, KY. She is passionate about literacy and high quality (and engaging) professional learning. Michelle helped establish Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Louisville. Michelle Shory is a veteran language educator with 24 years of experience in five states. She is currently a district ESL instructional coach in Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville, KY. She is passionate about literacy and high-quality (and engaging) professional learning. Michelle helped establish Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Louisville. Melisa “Misha” Cahnmann-Taylor, Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Georgia, is the author of five books in education, poetry, and the arts. Her most recent book is Enlivening Instruction with Drama & Improv: A guide for Second Language and World Language Teachers (2021). She is the author of a book of poems, Imperfect Tense (2016) and three other books on the arts of language and education: Teachers Act Up: Creating Multicultural Community Through Theatre (2010) & Arts-Based Research in Education: Foundations for Practice, first and second editions (2008; 2018).

Teaching almost always involves having lots to do and not enough time. But what if we could all save time and significantly reduce our workload? Listen in as we explore whether ChatGPT is an effective teacher's aid that can free educators from some of the time-consuming teacher tasks. Follow on Twitter: @madeline_will @susangbarber @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Susan Barber teaches at Midtown High School in Atlanta, Georgia and serves as the College Board Advisor for AP Literature, on the NCTE Secondary Steering Committee, and blogs at MuchAdoAboutTeaching.com. She has offered training at NCTE, the Poetry Foundation, and the Folger Shakespeare Library, has been featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Edutopia, and is co-author of The Norton Guide to AP Literature. Susan, however, is most proud of the work she does on a daily basis in E216 and never tires of the beauty and chaos of the classroom. Madeline Will is a reporter for Education Week who covers the teaching profession. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014.

Finding the right teaching strategies for a student is often a process of trial and error. How do you respond when a popular teaching strategy, technique, or practice falls short with your students? Join us to discuss smart ways to find more effective alternatives when needed. Follow @Angela_Watson @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience and over a decade of experience as an instructional coach. Angela created a website in 2003 to share practical classroom ideas and help other educators build a positive mindset to truly enjoy their work. Angela has written five books and her site now impacts over 8 million educators annually.

It's that time of the school year when we have to balance the excitement of the holiday season, the various traditions of all our students, and the schoolwork we still need to get done. Follow on Twitter: @LAMBradley @ideasforteacher @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Laura Bradley: After 30 years teaching middle school English, Design Lab and Broadcast Media, Lauara is now an Educational Technology Teacher on Special Assignment, supporting K-12 students and teachers in effective use of classroom technology. Laura is a Google Certified Innovator, PBS Digital Innovator All-Star, National Board Certified Teacher and first place winner of the Henry Ford Teacher Innovator Award. She lives in Petaluma, California with her husband, who recently retired after 40 years teaching middle school math, science and P.E. Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning. He is the author of Flipped 3.0 Project Based Learning: An Insanely Simple Guide.

As we enter midterm test season, we searched for strategies to help students reduce test stress and get better results. We reviewed 12 strategies and discuss why they work. Follow on Twitter: @juliacookonline @AggieAshley @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Julia Cook – a former teacher and school counselor, has presented in over 3000 schools throughout the world. She regularly delivers keynote addresses at national and international education and counseling conferences, speaks to corporate audiences, and has 139 published children's books. The goal behind all of Julia's books and efforts is to actively involve young people into her fun and creative stories and teach them to become life-long problem solvers. Inspirations for her books come from working with children and carefully listening to parents and teachers. Ashley Eberhart is in her 11th year of teaching as a Spanish Teacher at Round Rock High School in Round Rock, Texas. She serves as the Vice President for the Texas Foreign Language Association and the Austin Area Chairperson for the Texas A&M Hispanic Network. Ashley has presented from the campus level all the way to the national level on various topics such as SEL classroom strategies, building relationships in the virtual space, and implementing authentic resources for World Languages to advance interpretive proficiency. When she's not in teacher mode, she spends time with her husband and her teenage son and enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, blogging, and helping out in the Texas BBQ Community.

We're talking about 19 simple words that can significantly improve how students respond to our feedback and the results our comments produce. We close with a practice that can change the mindset of our students toward doing hard things. Follow on Twitter: @GaskellMGaskell @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Dr. Michael Gaskell is Principal at Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick, NJ. following experience as a special educator and assistant principal in Paramus, NJ. He continues to model the pursuit of lifelong learning as he serves to mentor new principals through the New Jersey Leaders to Leaders program. An NJPSA Stars recipient, he has been published in over 2 dozen articles in education journals and blogs, including eSchoolNews, NASSP, Edtech and ASCD Smartbrief, he has made the most-read section of ASCD Smartbrief numerous times. Mike had a book published in October, 2020 (Microstrategy Magic), and a second book published in September 2021 (Leading Schools Through Trauma). Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is a brand new third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent at school this year. She lives for those lightbulb moments students have when they figure out something they have been struggling with.

We know setting boundaries is essential to creating a productive classroom and school environment. In this episode, we talk about how to set (reset) effective boundaries while avoiding power struggles. Follow on Twitter: @janebluestein @MsRandazzo @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Karen Randazzo is an enthusiastic chemistry teacher in New Jersey.  She believes that every student has the power to learn anything, even chemistry.  Chemistry teacher by day, teacher-author by night, she's dedicated to making teachers' lives more manageable by offering professional development, sharing her engaging resources on her website, and collaborating with educators on various social media platforms.  A former ‘chalk and talk' teacher, she shares her journey navigating the Next Generation Science Standards and student-centered learning on her YouTube channel. Dr. Jane Bluestein specializes in programs and resources geared to provide practical and meaningful information, training and hope in areas related to relationship building, effective instruction and guidance, and personal growth and development. Much of her work focuses on interactions between adults and children, especially children at risk. Jane is an award-winning author whose books include The Win-Win Classroom; The Beginning Teacher's Survival Guide (formerly Becoming a Win-Win Teacher); Managing 21st Century Classrooms; Creating Emotionally Safe Schools; High School's Not Forever; Parents, Teens, & Boundaries; The Parent's Little Book of Lists: Do's and Don'ts of Effective Parenting; Mentors, Masters, and Mrs. McGregor: Stories of Teachers Making a Difference; and Magic, Miracles & Synchronicity : A Journal of Gratitude and Awareness. Dr. Bluestein's latest book is The Perfection Deception: Why Trying to Be Perfect is Sabotaging Your Relationships, Making You Sick, and Holding Your Happiness Hostage. Formerly a classroom teacher (in inner-city Pittsburgh, PA), crisis-intervention counselor, teacher training program coordinator, and volunteer with high-risk teens at a local Day Treatment Program, Dr. Bluestein currently heads Instructional Support Services, Inc., a consulting and resource firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This school year is off to a more normal start and some of what we learned last year is making this school term easier. In this episode, we share our top three most useful and effective lessons learned. Follow on Twitter: @LisaPas220 @larryferlazzo @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Larry Ferlazzo is an award-winning teacher at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California. He writes a popular education blog and a teacher advice column for Education Week Teacher. He is also the author of several books. Lisa Leaheey has taught English at North Providence High School for the entirety of her 23-year career. A lifelong voracious reader and movie buff, she spends every day sharing her passion for stories with her students, and she continuously seeks out new ways to elevate her students' individual strengths and to support their individual needs.  Lisa was recently named the 2023 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year,

If you feel the need to teach or reteach your students how to engage in your classroom, you're not alone. In this discussion, we unpack why teaching students the ABCs of engaging in class is needed now, and how to do it effectively. Follow on Twitter: @DianeE_teacher @dfishersdsu @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Dianne Eliott is entering her second year as Social Emotional Learning Facilitator for Garden City (Kansas) Public Schools. Prior to that, she was a special education teacher, working with students from kindergarten to sixth grade. She also spent a few years as a Title 1 and ESL teacher. Douglas Fisher is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader and health sciences high. He is the author of several books focused on improving educational outcomes. He is the co-author of his newest release, Leading the Rebound: 20+ Must Dos to Restart Teaching and Learning.

By now, we're all back to school, appreciating our students, and the joy of the moment. Eventually, we'll get into the grove of the school year, and maintaining that energy and joy takes a little something extra. In this segment, we talk about ways to manage our mindset when the back-to-school honeymoon ends. Follow on Twitter: @paul_emerich @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Dr. Suzanna Windon is an Assistant Professor of Youth and Adult Leadership, including Volunteer Management at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). Suzanna serves as a project director for AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians. Suzanna's research focuses on the area of intrapersonal and interpersonal leadership. Paul Emerich France is a National Board Certified Teacher, keynote speaker, and education consultant. He is the author of two books, Reclaiming Personalized Learning and Humanizing Distance Learning, and his work has been featured in numerous publications, such as Edutopia, EdSurge, ASCD's Educational Leadership, and Learning Forward's The Learning Professional. Learn more about Paul at www.paulemerich.com.

If this is your first year in the classroom, congratulations and welcome. In this episode, we bring together two veteran teachers and a newly minted teacher to talk about what matters most as you set priorities for the first few weeks of the new school year. Share this episode with all new teachers in your school. They will thank you. Follow on Twitter: @bethpando @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is a brand new third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent at school this year. She lives for those lightbulb moments students have when they figure out something they have been struggling with. Beth Pandolpho is an author and educator who is presently an instructional coach for grades 6-12 in a New Jersey public school district. She has a Master's of Science in reading, and has taught English at the high school and college level for over 20 years. She is the author of the book, I'm Listening: How Teacher-Student Relationships Improve Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, and is co-authoring a second book scheduled to be released in 2023. She has written for Education Week, Educational Leadership, The New York Times Learning Network, and Edutopia. Learn more about her work at www.bethpandolpho.com

As we kick off a new school year we pause to consider and align our priorities. In this episode, I chat with teachers who have seen many new school years come and go about what matters most in the first few weeks of school. Follow on Twitter: @lanierowell @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, writer, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner, a contributing author of Because of a Teacher, and her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, she is dedicated to building learning communities and her areas of focus include learner-driven design, social-emotional learning, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Sara Silber is an award-winning elementary school teacher and a lead mentor with 30 years of classroom experience. Sara has written two blogposts, for BehaviorFlip's Blog-“Social Emotional Growth Maps” and “A Teacher's Journey Through Hacking School Discipline.” More recently, she authored a chapter in the inspiring book Thank You, Teacher. Sara enjoys working with her students and helping them grow and become independent learners. When she is not teaching or planning she is finding ways to support her colleagues. She loves to share her expertise,funny stories and other things that happen in the life of a teacher. Episode Transcript 3 SEL Practices Teachers Can Use Every Day 3 SEL Practices That Early Childhood Educators Can Use Every Day Rethinking and Revisiting Our Priorities

Before the final days of school fade into the rearview mirror, we look at how we can encourage students to read over the summer and minimize the summer slide. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @ZincLearning @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork After graduating from Princeton University, Matt Bardin worked as a New York City secondary-school English teacher. The challenges facing his students stayed with him long after he left the classroom and prompted him to found Zinc Learning Labs. Bardin launched this ed tech company with the mission of equipping every middle and high school student with the skills to read advanced texts successfully. He focuses on love-based learning and seeks to bring joy and delight to middle and high school English classes.

Many of us are down to the last few days and weeks of the school year. In this episode, we talk about what matters most as we wrap up and aim to close strong. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @fromrooma212 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Ann Stiltner is a high school special education teacher. She received a master's degree in special education from the University of Hartford and a certificate of advanced studies in literacy from Sacred Heart University. She writes the blog from Room A212 (annstiltner.com/blog).

The school year is not quite over for many schools, but many students have checked out for the duration. Join us as we run down some practical strategies for managing the year-end challenges and annoyances that routinely arise in the final weeks and days. Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @HolSpinny @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Holly Spinelli is a students' rights activist with specific focuses in alternative, strengths-based pedagogical approaches where students' voices serve as the catalyst for their education. She is a New York public high school teacher, an adjunct instructor at SUNY Orange County Community College, and an active member of the NCTE's Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English. Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning. He is the author of Flipped 3.0 Project Based Learning: An Insanely Simple Guide.

As many of us contemplate whether it's time for us to leave our schools or maybe the teaching profession altogether, we invited a few educators who have wrestled with and made the decision to share the key points to consider before resigning. Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork @Chelsea_Lee0615 Chelsea Lee is an educator, military spouse, and she and her husband have a 10 month old son. She has taught 2nd though 5th grade students over a period of 6 years in the states of Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. She is currently involved with education as a product support specialist for an educational tech company. Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning. Jon Harper is currently an assistant principal at Choptank Elementary School in Cambridge, Maryland. This is his 12th year as an assistant principal and prior to that he was a math coach and taught first through fifth grades. He is the author of My Bad: 24 Educators Who Messed Up Fessed Up and Grew! He Hosts #MyBad Radio and Teachers' Aid.

If this is your first year of teaching, welcome to the most demanding and unpredictable school term most seasoned veterans have experienced. The most important thing you can do to maximize your effectiveness is to be willing to ask for help — here's how. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Rachel Taylor is a first year fourth-grade teacher in Gwinnett County, GA. She is a first-year teacher during concurrent learning. She loves hiking, camping, creating, and roller skating. She is from the small town of Dublin, Georgia and has a small family, but the educational community has always been her family, as her mom taught me and hundreds of others for 27 years.

This term many of us will walk into classrooms where we will be expected to teach students who have the most diverse academic and social-emotional needs in recent history. The need for more individualized teaching has moved from desirable to critical this school year. So what practical teaching strategies can we use to meet each of our students where they are? In this episode, we talk with four teachers who have deep experience with differentiating instruction in classrooms with 20, 30 kids, or more. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @ideasforteacher @peter_santoro @MrHabegger @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Jake Habegger is an 8th grade US History Teacher in Franklin, Tennessee. His goal in education is to invigorate student learning by meeting them where they are through the use of technology. Peter Santoro has been teaching high school mathematics for 12 years. In addition to two sections of Introductory Calculus, Peter also teaches one section of Geometry and two sections of Mathematics Research Honors. In addition, he is the coach of the Garden City High School Math Team (Mathletes). Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Bay Path University, a private liberal arts institution in western Massachusetts. Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning. Dan teaches history at a public school in Ohio.

COVID-19 surprised us again with another uncertain school term.  As we turn on a dime to meet the evolving needs of our students, those who teach English language learners have some unique hurdles to surmount. In this episode, we invite two ELL teachers to share the game plan and practical strategies for another year of pandemic teaching and learning. Follow on Twitter: @AggieAshley @Larryferlazzo @sgthomas1973 @ @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Larry Ferlazzo teaches English, Social Studies and International Baccalaureate classes to English Language Learners and mainstream students at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California. This is his 18th year at Burbank! He has written 12 books: The ELL Teacher's Toolbox (with co-author Katie Hull Sypnieski) Navigating The Common Core With English Language Learners (with co-author Katie Hull Sypnieski); Building A Community Of Self-Motivated Learners: Strategies To Help Students Thrive In School and Beyond; Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching; Self-Driven Learning: Teaching Strategies For Student Motivation; The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide (with co-author Katie Hull Sypnieski); Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges; English Language Learners: Teaching Strategies That Work; and Building Parent Engagement In Schools (with co-author Lorie Hammond). Ashley Eberhart is in her 11th year of teaching as a Spanish Teacher at Round Rock High School in Round Rock, Texas.  She currently serves as the Vice President for the Texas Foreign Language Association and the Austin Area Chairperson for the Texas A&M Hispanic Network.  Ashley has presented from the campus level all the way to the national level on various topics such as SEL classroom strategies, building relationships in the virtual space, and implementing authentic resources for World Languages to advance interpretive proficiency.  When she's not in teacher mode, she spends time with her husband and her teenage son and enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, blogging, and helping out in the Texas BBQ Community.

We don't like the term "learning loss," and we see learning recovery as a pig with lipstick. But we know learning recovery mandates are coming our way. In this premiere episode of We Just Want to Teach, we begin our search for practical strategies for teaching a classroom full of students with widely different subject knowledge and unique emotional needs. Follow on Twitter: @heymrsbond @RitaWirtz @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Chanea Bond is a North Texas English and literacy teacher, scholar, and activist. Her areas of interest and advocacy include diversifying literacy curriculum to better represent the lived experience of her students and their communities. Rita Wirtz holds a BA in English and Speech, a master's degree in reading from Arizona State University (ASU), and an administrative services credential (K–12) through California State University–Sacramento (CSUS). She was a California language arts and reading specialist who has instructed at all levels including K-12 classrooms, labs, and clinics. She has written a number of reading instruction books for parents and teachers including Reading Champs: Teaching Reading Made Easy and her memoir, Stories From a Teacher's Heart: Memories of Love, Life and Family and Reading Champions! Second Edition, Teaching Reading Made Easy.